The Passport Issue

[Sassylassie]

When I read Juan's post I thought what do you mean Foreign Country. Dah Sassy, I never think of the US as a foreign country, but he's right. I use to shop in the states three times a year and I've grown to think of it as another Province. If a passport is need then a passport I must get. It might distract the boarder guards from the eight outfits I'm wearing at the same time. Note to Sassy: Add 35 bogus pounds to your passport.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Passport to The United States.

 

[Curiosity]

Sassy

I love you.....I thought my girlfriends and I were the only ones who did that. We could never afford to stay the regulation hours they require to purchase goods....so we would all wear something we could throw away....and buy some outfits which we could wear in layers....uncomfortable but delightful.

I think the customs people probably knew but we were so swollen and miserable they probably thought it was teaching us a lesson ...

Here I thought I'd been committing a criminal act all these years and no doubt there are tons of people who did it.

I used to make up stories on the Christmas Gift declarations too so people wouldn't know what they were getting....now I don't even do that...I buy in Canada and have them shipped in Canada to Canadians....unwrapped of course....but at least within the law....

I think the whole deal s u c k s (is that a bad word on the list here?)

 

[Curiosity]

Johnny

Sassy and I would probably get stuck in the darn projector because of all the extra clothing we'd be wearing hahahaha.....

That's a great idea tho.

 

[Sassylassie]

WC, my husbands Grand Mother is 95 and she travels to the states to gamble, Reno-Vegas, five times a year and she does it. It must be a girl thing, if only shoes where that easy to layer, sigh. I've tried wearing the shoes as earrings, or hair pieces but it just looked to stupid.

Johnny, you never want me around anything that shoots, grinds or needs power. It's for your own protection not mine.

 

[Curiosity]

Sassy

Your Grandmother in law sounds like a great soul....anyone who has lived 95 years deserves to have as much fun (and sin haha) as she wants!

 

[Sassylassie]

I better use the word Passport or Dumpthemonarcy will complain. Yep GrandMa is a doll, her 95th Birthday Celebrations (Dec 2005) took a week not a day. I mistakenly commented that not even the Queen gets a week dedicated to her, Grandma wasn't impressed. Good luck with your Passport. My husband was lucky our friend and neighbour was a Doctor and he stamped his Passport with his Notary Stamp. Para-legals in Canada are cheaper than Lawyers and most have a Notary Stamp. Cost around $40.

 

[Curiosity]

Sassy

That grandmother sounds wonderful!!!

The problem down here is they don't obey the Canadian mandate that they have to sign for "free"....including all professionals (lawyers, doctors, police, etc.)....The Americans hoot and holler when they hear that. Not even a Notary will do anything for free - especially on a Canadian Passport. The Canadians insist they do it and the Americans laugh. It's a Catch 22.

Also nobody in my little town could comply with the measurements for a Canadian Passport picture which differ from an American size. You can get an American Passport here in a matter of weeks...no problem.... but Canadian Passports are only available in limited places.... their Consulate in L.A. was absolutely no help at all. The Gatineau people were and faxed me a form where I can declare I am who I am and then pay a notary to sign that I am who I am....silly eh? And all of this has to be signed on the back of one of the passport pictures (which is like a 2 x 2 piece of paper)...and has already got my IRS Guarantor's name on it). They finally conceded they would accept an American photo - and I have it is writing.... finally one thing worked for me.....sigh.

The whole thing is like a routine the three stooges would dream up...

What is so silly as this has nothing to do with my American citizenship....I have to go in April for another extension on my alien card because they haven't caught up to me yet on my citizenship...and the alien card ran out last year for they extended it for a year and now it is due again..........

I am beginning to feel Lost in Space!

 

[Sassylassie]

If you feel the need to cut and run I have a in-law suite in the basement. As long as it's not ever used as an in-law suite. Of course there is always Zoofer, I'm sure he'd supply you with a place to stay.

 

[Curiosity]

LOLOLOL Sassy - what a nice thing to say...thank you.

If I went to Zoofer's I'd have to golf!

No problem about Canada - I have relatives across the country in Victoria, Courtney, Vancouver, Prince George, Edmonton, Calgary, Strathmore, Lethbridge, Winnipeg, Toronto and (unless she has moved again) - Ottawa...

I could stay a year with relatives and never overstay....it's lovely having a big family who keep proliferating!

 

[DasFX]

Re: RE: The Passport Issue

I've never really considered the United States to be foreign.

The US is as foreign to Canada as China, Bulgaria and Mongolia. Just because their territory boarders us and their culture is somewhat similar to ours does make a difference.

What really is the big deal about getting a passport? I'm astounded that most people don't have one; I've always had one.

My last one expired this January, so I immediately got it renewed. It is so easy as well, the application takes 20 minutes on-line, and then 10 more minutes at the passport office. It costs a hundred dollars, but it lasts for 5 years.

If you really think about, it was rather stupid not to require a passport before. A birth certificate has no photo on it, and a driver's license has no indication of citizenship. Canada should require people to present a passport as well.

[/quote]

 

[Jay]

It's common sense IMO.

 

[Curiosity]

Common Sense??? What does that have to do with it???

I am applying for naturalization as an American citizen. I have never needed a Canadian passport because I have never traveled except to Canada and none was required until now.

My original birth cert, baptism, and all the other papers to do with my degrees, my relatives, my work history, personal certificiates such as marriage and death....all are available in original form. The Passport new rule doesn't go into effect until 2008. I think they are starting now to get a jump on the overload they will have.

I am complying with the new rules, even though my Naturalization Papers as a U.S. citizen could some through any week - and then I will obtain an American Passport.

Nobody mentioned getting a Canadian one until last month March - when I was going to have to renew my Alien Card again....and it was said in an "offhand way"... Wouldn't hurt to get your Canadian Passport....HUH?

I guess it makes governmental and bureaucratic sense....but it makes no common sense.

 

[Jay]

Sorry WC.....

 

[Curiosity]

LOL Jay

I just talked to Passport Canada again because I am waiting impatiently on the form I have to fill out stating I am a real person....

The guy I talked to about the different requirements between the two countries (size of picture - guarantor eligibility etc)....just called the Americans "asses"...hahaha....

I think I made his day a happier one getting out that little bit of stuffed down frustration....hee!

2006 - Passports required if one is going to Canada from the U.S. "through" to another destination such as Europe or Cuba, etc.
Works the other way too....if one is going to the U.S. to catch a flight out of an American airport...

2007/2008 - Passports required by everyone on both sides if they plan to cross the 49th.....north and south.

2009 - set up motor home or tent at border and wave across hahahaha - no shooting allowed.

 

[tracy]

I don't see the big deal about requiring passports. I think it's always a good idea to have one anyways. It can be a pain in the butt to get, but worth it.

OT, but I didn't think you needed a passport to go to Mexico. I know Americans don't.

 

[sanch]

WC a passport is easy. Well it is easy if you are a repeater. For a Canadian passport it is the same process over and over again every five years. You don’t have to give it up as you can have dual citizenship and there are advantages to your family in traveling with a Canadian passport.

I have been going round in circles with Citizenship and Immigration for almost 2 years. I’ve been told that processing comes to a halt when there is a scandal or the government changes hands or there is a new minister so I may have been a victim of bad timing. I was told it was all finished in November and that it needed to go through one last stage. Then I would have to travel to the consulate to pick it up as this is required for security.

I called back in February and they looked up my file and told me that because of the election the new minister would have to review my file. We would essentially have to start all over. This was the protocol. Work had stopped in December when the election was called and my application had not made it out of the office. They were very sorry.

I was enraged. I had told my children it was completed. I didn’t know how I would tell them that they had essentially been done in by bureaucracy and this was typical of how things work in Canada.

Luckily their citizenship certificates arrived the next day by mail and I was spared.

 

[Curiosity]

Tracy

Don't know about Mexico - but will not be going there in the near future until things settle down. The border towns are way too frightening and the major resorts aren't the kind of places I enjoy anyway. Didn't know anything about passports but it doesn't hurt to have them no matter what your plans are (as I am beginning to find out)....

Sanch

Passports are easy if you are in the same country. Things are different in the U.S. and to satisfy the Canadian requirements for an acceptable "guarantor" (one who swears you are who you are)...
are so rigid it is difficult to meet their orders.

As Juan said, getting the passport in your own country is easy....
as my getting an American one will be once my paperwork is complete. I have been in the U.S. for 19 years so there is very little in Canada regarding background checks compared with what I have here in the states.

I am sorry you too had trouble......Glad your paperwork came through for you.... I understand about the "changing of the guard" and very few unfinished issues are automatically continued until the "new people" recheck them out....which is a pain for people
who are waiting for the documentation. Bureaucracy is a new word for "keep em in line".... makes everyone seem busy doing their jobs.

Took me long enough to make up my mind about taking out naturalization papers in the U.S. and by the time I did, the immigration are up to the ear lobes in Illegal Mexican problems.....(bad timing for me)..It's my fault really ... I shouldn't have waited so long to commit.

I hear they do 16 background checks in an hour in the U.S. and if they do less they are reprimanded....how can anyone be checked that carefully at less than 4 minutes per applicant????

Anyway I hope you are ok now and sorted out .... my Congressman's office called me yesteday and said they had "good news" but wouldn't tell me....said they would fax it to me in a couple of days..... which is typical government way of doing things... Things have really changed since I took out my alien card application in Vancouver - the U.S. embassy was almost empty and I got through there in about a half hour. Then I packed off to L.A. with a huge big envelope which they took away and gave me a little plastic card in exchange. Where all that information went I don't know (lost in the belly of the beast?).....

It has been another learning experience as you probably know!

Sanch....WELCOME / BIENVENU.... TO CANADA!!! Congratulations!
You will be a great new member of a wonderful country.

 

[sanch]

Hi WC I have always been Canadian. I just live abroad. The citizenship was for my children. I've gotten new Canadian passports in Europe, Latin Amercia and the last 3 or 4 in the US.

 

[Curiosity]

Sanch

Oh I see - no wonder you are having difficulty.... Glad things have worked out for you and your children!

Some day share with us living in other countries will you? I am not a traveller but love to hear about others' experiences in lands beyond my reach....